The pace of rent rises across the UK slowed down in August with average monthly rents growing by 5.7% to £1,348 in the 12 months to August, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) reveals. Its latest Index of Private Rents shows that’s a slight slowdown from the 5.9% annual growth recorded in July. In England, […]

This piece is part of our International Bizarre Landlord Stories series. Today’s story was first reported in Ireland. When a landlord in Dublin entered a property after repeated rent arrears, they were stunned to find rows of trays filled with compost and white fungi growing across the sitting room floor. The tenant had converted the […]

Shelter Scotland blasts the government for “Scotland’s broken and biased housing system” as new figures reveal the number of households experiencing homelessness reaches record highs. According to figures released by the Scottish government, despite a decrease in the number of homeless applications for the first time in four years, Shelter Scotland claims the “numbers raise […]

Three leading buy to lenders have introduced mortgage products tailored to meet the needs of landlords, offering competitive rates and flexible terms. Fleet Mortgages has rolled out three new two-year fixed-rate mortgages at 65% loan-to-value (LTV) within its Standard borrower range. Each product includes £1,000 cashback, no application fee and a free valuation for properties […]

An industry body is calling for the Office for National Statistics (ONS) data on the private rented sector to reflect the reality of the rental market. Propertymark has responded to the ONS consultation on the Price Index of Private Rents (PIPR) and raises concerns over the lag in collating and publishing data. The ONS publishes […]

Landlords worried about the costs to upgrade homes to meet higher EPC standards may find a new tool launched by PropEco useful. The property data firm has introduced its EPC audit system, designed to uncover and correct mistakes in Energy Performance Certificates. With government proposals set to require all private rented sector properties to achieve […]

London’s private rented sector experienced its usual seasonal dip in August as tenant registrations fell by 11% compared with July, Foxtons reveals. The letting agency says that the slowdown follows the usual late-summer trend as families return from holidays and students prepare for the academic year. Compared with the same month last year, demand was […]

London Mayor Sadiq Khan claims ‘the power to cap rents’ is top of his list in new powers under the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill. During the London Assembly Mayor’s Question Time, Green Party London Assembly Member Zoë Garbett asked Mr Khan whether he would push the government to cap rent increases, and he […]

Landlords often ask whether they should use a buy to let mortgage, a commercial mortgage, or bridging finance. The right answer depends on the asset, the timing, and the plan for repayment. This guide explains the core differences so you can choose the most effective route for your circumstances. 1) What Each Product Is Buy […]

I had a leak from the stopcock in the foyer in a block of 8 studio flats where I own and rent out. I didn’t know where the water was coming from at first, which rotted my doorframe and threshold. I employed a workman who discovered the source. There is also wood rot to a […]

Most UK buy to let landlords plan to keep their rental homes over the coming year, showing renewed confidence in the private rented sector, a survey reveals. According to Landbay, 58% of respondents said they have no plans to sell in the next 12 months – that’s up from 47% in the firm’s previous survey […]

Two letting agencies have been stripped of their membership with The Property Ombudsman following their failure to pass on rent income of more than £11,600 to landlords. The decision, made by the Ombudsman’s Compliance Committee, has resulted in both firms being excluded from the redress scheme, effectively barring them from legally operating in the private […]

Two buy to let lenders have announced changes designed to give brokers and landlords more flexibility in the BTL mortgage market. Foundation Home Loans has widened its criteria to include single household properties rented to Housing Associations and Local Authorities. The move is aimed at supporting advisers and their landlord clients at a time when […]

Hi, we have a studio flat rented to a single vulnerable lady, who we were introduced to by the local council. We received a message from her today saying she’s had to move out as a man she let stay with her has become abusive and controlling and is taking drugs. She’s gone to a […]

The UK’s leading not-for-profit accreditation body for lettings and management agents, safeagent, has put forward a robust response to the recent Decent Homes Standard consultation, which concluded last week. The organisation is pushing for a practical and effective framework to improve living conditions in the private rented sector while warning against overly complex regulations. Isobel […]

The Labour government has appointed a new Homelessness Minister more than a month after Rushanara Ali’s resignation. Alison McGovern will serve as Minister for Local Government and Homelessness, facing a difficult task as the number of homeless households in England reaches unprecedented levels. The appointment follows Ms Ali’s resignation, which came after the i newspaper […]

More than 4.5 million private renters in England and Wales, equivalent to 41% of the sector, had to limit their use of gas and electricity last winter to manage crippling energy costs, Citizens Advice reveals. The charity says that 3.5 million renters, or one in three tenants in the PRS, found it challenging to maintain […]

Britain’s property hotspots are shifting away from traditional favourites like London, Birmingham and Manchester, as a new set of second cities delivers the strongest rental yield growth. According to West One Loans, which examined PRS data alongside house values in 63 urban centres across the country, it also compared 2025 yield projections with 2023 performance […]

Britain’s housing market faces a period of subdued house price growth, while rents will rise, according to property consultancy Knight Frank. The firm says there will be 4% rent rises across the UK this year, and they’ll go up by 3.5% in each of the next two years. The rise is down to a growing […]

Landlords seeking cost-effective places for investment should turn their attention northward, according to research from Zoopla that reveals striking regional variations in affordable housing stock. The comprehensive analysis exposes a tale of two markets across Great Britain, with northern regions presenting impressive investment propositions that southern counterparts cannot match. While only 12% of properties nationwide […]

Labour has been drawn into another rented home row after one of its biggest donors, Lord Waheed Alli, removed a family from his London property before it was put back on the market at a much higher rent. The Islington townhouse, a five-bedroom former residence of the peer, had been home to a family of […]